Close an app by swiping up from the bottom of the screen
To close a single app on your Apple Watch, open the app you want to close, then swipe up from the bottom edge of the screen. A close button will appear at the top. Tap the X or the close icon, and the app will shut down when ready.
This method works the same way on all Apple Watch models running watchOS 3 or later. The gesture is the same whether you're using a Series 3, Series 5, Series 7, or any newer model. If you're not sure which watchOS version your watch runs, go to Settings > General > About on your watch to check.
Some apps close faster than others. Apps that use a lot of processing power — like fitness tracking apps or weather apps that pull live data — may take a second or two to fully shut down. This is normal and not a sign of a problem.
Key Takeaways
- Swipe up from the bottom of the screen while an app is open, then tap the X button to close it.
- Force-closing an app (holding the side button until the power menu appears, then swiping left) should only be used if an app is frozen or not responding.
- Closing apps manually does not significantly extend battery life on Apple Watch, so you do not need to close every app after use.
- If an app crashes or becomes unresponsive, force-close it first, then restart the app to see if the problem goes away.
Force-close an app that is frozen or not responding
If an app stops responding or becomes stuck, you can force it to close. Press and hold the side button (the one below the digital crown) until you see the power menu appear. This takes about 3 seconds. Once the menu shows, swipe left across the screen. The app will shut down when ready, even if it appears to be frozen.
Force-closing is different from a normal close. A normal close gives the app time to save what it was doing and shut down cleanly. A force-close stops it right away, which can sometimes cause you to lose unsaved work. Only use force-close when an app is actually stuck or not responding to taps.
After you force-close an app, wait a few seconds before opening it again. This gives your watch's processor time to reset. Then tap the app icon to reopen it. Most of the time, the app will work normally after a force-close and restart.
Understand when you actually need to close apps
Apple Watch is designed to manage apps in the background without you having to close them manually. Unlike older phones, closing an app does not save battery power on your watch. The watchOS system automatically pauses apps you are not using and puts them into a low-power state. They use almost no battery while paused.
You should close an app if it is misbehaving, using too much battery, or if you want to make sure it starts fresh the next time you open it. For normal daily use — checking the weather, reading messages, or tracking a workout — you do not need to close apps at all. Just move on to the next thing you want to do.
If you notice your watch battery draining much faster than usual, the problem is rarely a single app left open. More often it is a background setting, a watch face that refreshes too often, or a Bluetooth connection issue. Closing apps is not the first thing to try.
Close multiple apps at once using the app switcher
If you want to see all your open apps and close several at once, use the app switcher. Press the side button once (a short press, not a long hold) to bring up the app switcher. You will see a stack of app cards showing the apps you have used recently.
Swipe up or down to scroll through the stack and find the app you want to close. Once you see it, swipe up on that card to close it. You can close multiple apps this way by swiping up on each one. When you are done, press the digital crown to return to the watch face.
The app switcher shows your most recently used apps, not every app on your watch. If an app you want to close is not in the switcher, it is probably already closed or in the background. You can also just press the digital crown to exit the switcher and return to your watch face.
Restart your watch if apps keep crashing
If multiple apps are crashing or behaving strangely, a full restart of your watch often fixes the problem. Press and hold the side button until the power menu appears (about 3 seconds). You will see a slider that says "Power Off." Drag the slider to the right to turn off your watch.
Wait about 30 seconds, then press and hold the side button again until you see the Apple logo. Your watch will restart. This process takes about a minute total. Once your watch is back on, try opening the apps that were causing trouble.
A restart clears temporary files and resets the system memory, which often solves app crashes without you losing any of your data. Your watch face, settings, and all your apps will be exactly as they were before the restart.
Delete apps you no longer use
If you have apps on your watch that you never open, deleting them can help keep your watch running smoothly and free up storage space. To delete an app, press firmly on the app icon on your watch face or in the app grid until a menu appears. Tap "Remove App," then confirm by tapping "Remove" again.
You can also delete apps from the Watch app on your iPhone. Open the Watch app, go to the App Library, find the app you want to remove, swipe left on it, and tap the trash icon. The app will be deleted from your watch but will remain in the App Store if you want to reinstall it later.
Deleting unused apps does not affect your watch's performance as much as closing them does, but it does free up storage. Apple Watch models typically have between 8 GB and 32 GB of storage depending on the model, and some apps can take up several hundred megabytes.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does closing apps on Apple Watch save battery?
No. Apple Watch automatically pauses apps in the background, so they use almost no power when you are not using them. Closing apps manually does not extend battery life. If your battery is draining quickly, the cause is usually a setting, a watch face that refreshes too often, or a Bluetooth connection problem, not open apps.
What is the difference between closing an app and force-closing it?
Closing an app normally (swiping up and tapping the X) gives the app time to save its state and shut down cleanly. Force-closing (holding the side button and swiping left) stops the app when ready, even if it is frozen. Only force-close when an app is not responding. For normal use, a regular close is better.
Can I close all my apps at once?
There is no button to close all apps at once. You can close them one by one using the app switcher (press the side button once, then swipe up on each app card), or you can restart your watch, which closes everything. For most users, there is no reason to close all apps since they do not drain battery in the background.
What should I do if an app keeps crashing after I close and reopen it?
Try restarting your watch by holding the side button until the power menu appears, then dragging the Power Off slider to the right. Wait 30 seconds and turn it back on. If the app still crashes, try deleting it from the Watch app on your iPhone and reinstalling it from the App Store.
Is it normal for apps to take a few seconds to close?
Yes. Some apps, especially those that track fitness data or pull live information, may take a second or two to shut down completely. This is normal. If an app takes more than 5 seconds to close or seems completely stuck, try force-closing it instead.